CompTIA Blog

The latest version of CompTIA Security+ is available today (English only, initially).  As part of the ISO/ANSI accreditation for CompTIA Security+, we update the exam every three years and there was a lot of new information to cover. The exam is still aimed at an IT security professional who has a minimum of 2 years of experience in IT administration with a focus on security, day to day technical information security experience, and broad knowledge of security concerns and implementation, but th ...

Last week, through its partnership in TechVoice, CompTIA hosted a webinar session with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to discuss pending patent reform legislation in the United States Congress.  While there seems to be significant momentum this year to pass comprehensive patent reform legislation, there are several aspects of the legislation that cause concern among small and medium sized technology firms.  We have made the webinar available for viewing and would encourage you to t ...

A look at the week of May 23 in public advocacy for the IT channel Phil Reitinger, the Department of Homeland Security’s top cyber and computer crimes official, is resigning from his position.  A new audit reveals that although the Office of the National Coordinator has established security controls for the sharing of medical data, the controls omit the IT systems hosting the data, posing a significant security threat. Members of the Senate have mixed feelings on the cybersecurity ...

With our Annual Member Meeting behind us, we’re focusing on how we can deepen the level of involvement of our members and reach out to our newer members.  Our members told us what they got out of CompTIA throughout the year.Now click on the link below and listen as CompTIA President and CEO Todd Thibodeaux discusses what’s next for CompTIA, how we’re starting to find the secret sauce to get members engaged, and how we’re striving to be at the forefront of new tech deployments.Plus hear how membe ...

The latest version of CompTIA Security+ is available today (English only, initially).  As part of the ISO/ANSI accreditation for CompTIA Security+, we update the exam every three years and there was a lot of new information to cover. The exam is still aimed at an IT security professional who has a minimum of 2 years experience in IT administration with a focus on security, day to day technical information security experience, and broad knowledge of security concerns and implementation, ...

After being kicked out of his apartment last summer, Tim Burford’s bout with homelessness lasted over 120 miles, a journey in the August heat from Beaufort, S.C., to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Columbia. Hitchhiking when he could but walking over half the way, he spent several nights sleeping in ditches and under overpasses.As a soldier, he says, he had always been taught to do what it takes to complete a task.In this case, his task was to get a new life.Officials at the VA immediate ...

Over the past decade, the U.S. government steadily has increased its reliance on IT to become more efficient, reduce costs and add new capabilities. In the aggregate (federal + state + local), government entities are expected to invest more than $133 billion in IT this year. Even with intense budgetary pressures, the government market represents one of the largest verticals for IT products and services.Like any market vertical, the government space has its own unique needs, requirements and nuan ...

Gadgets are the new cool - everyone wants the latest mobile phone, iPad 2, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy and a myriad of others. In fact, at the recent CRN PartnerConnect conference at the Ricoh Arena, where we talked about cloud business opportunities and mobility, our CEO Todd Thibodeaux brought all of these devices with him in his hand luggage and showed them to the audience, which generated a combination of laughter and interest. Todd also talked about making IT cool and I would like to ...

This month we kick off a new series of podcasts, interviews with IT channel CEOs, to help our members learn from each other.  CompTIA President and CEO Todd Thibodeaux discusses changes in the IT channel with Bob O’Malley, CEO, InFocus.InFocus® Corporation is an industry pioneer and global leader in the visual communication market. Its digital displays make bright ideas brilliant everywhere people gather to communicate and be entertained -- in meetings, presentations, classrooms, and living room ...

Remember the famous Henry Ford quote on his Model T car, “You can have it in any color, as long as it’s black?” The early days of mass production were all about making a lot of things, but none of them were complicated. Options were minimal and design wasn’t a major focus for most manufacturers, but as consumers started to demand variety, companies started to offer a larger selection of products.That’s the same transition that technology is taking today, and solution providers get to be the guid ...

Gadgets are the new cool – everyone wants the latest mobile phone, iPad 2, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy and a myriad of others. In fact, at the recent CRN PartnerConnect conference at the Ricoh Arena, where we talked about cloud business opportunities and mobility, our CEO Todd Thibodeaux brought all of these devices with him in his hand luggage and showed them to the audience, which generated a combination of laughter and interest. Todd also talked about making IT cool and I would like to pick ...

What does your business have that other businesses don’t? How do you set your staff apart from the competition? For some businesses like Incredible Connection, the CompTIA Authorized Service Center (ASC) accreditation gives them the competitive advantage over other IT service and repair companies. Incredible Connection is an IT specialist retailer with 60 stores across South Africa, and two additional stores in Namibia and Botswana. With 155 staff members, customer service is Incredible Connecti ...

What does your business have that other businesses don’t? How do you set your staff apart from the competition? For some businesses like Incredible Connection, the CompTIA Authorized Service Center (ASC) accreditation gives them the competitive advantage over other IT service and repair companies.    Incredible Connection is an IT specialist retailer with 60 stores across South Africa, and two additional stores in Namibia and Botswana. With 155 staff members, customer service is Incre ...

Just a month ago, the SBIR/STTR reauthorization legislation seemed poised for passage in the Senate, then something happened:  Amendments. One of the biggest controversies involved how to attach an amendment that would repeal the 1099 repeal provision; that controversy was solved when the 1099 repeal provision was introduced as stand-alone legislation, which ultimately passed.  It seemed at the time that removing the 1099 amendment from the SBIR/STTR legislation removed some of the urgency for m ...

A look at the week of May 16 in public advocacy for the IT channel This week, the Administration unveiled a proposal for cybersecurity in the U.S.  Although health insurers are losing profit to federal reforms, healthcare IT might present an opportunity to recoup some losses.  Some senators are urging the Securities and Exchange Commission to require companies to disclose when they have been victims of cyberattacks.  White House Reveals Cybersecurity Plan — The White Hou ...